Funding Will Increase Access to Clean and Reliable Water Systems and Solid Waste Treatment in Rural Western US Communities and Guam
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $16.9 million to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in Utah. The investments reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Building a Better America by investing in rural communities and will help expand access to clean water, reliable wastewater and solid waste treatment in communities across rural Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Hawaii and Guam.
“When we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice president Harris, USDA is committed to Building a Better America by investing in America’s rural infrastructure, expanding access to broadband, clean drinking water and resilient power infrastructure. The investments we are announcing today will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come.”
This announcement follows the recent passage of President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development’s programs are helping people, businesses and communities address critical infrastructure needs to help rural America build back better.
The City of Millville in Cache County, Utah, will use a $6,400,000 grant and a $9,720,000 loan under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan/Grant Program to construct and install a wastewater collection system. Historically the community has relied on individual septic tanks and with this funding, Millville will construct a new sewer system ensuring residents have access to modern, reliable and safe wastewater infrastructure.
Solid Waste Training Institute based in Kaysville, Utah, will use $849,400 in grants to provide technical assistance and training services to small rural landfills in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Hawaii and Guam with information and technology to keep their community landfill systems sustainable. These projects are funded through the Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
Background
Today Vilsack highlighted 359 investments totaling $5.2 billion that USDA is making in seven programs designed to help people in rural areas access high-speed internet, clean water, and dependable electric power. These programs include Community Connect Grants, Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants and Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants.
The investments announced today will support rural infrastructure projects in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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